Let's hope Adam Laxalt's political career doesn't end before it gets started

Adam Laxalt, shown with his wife, Jaime, and daughter, Sophia, is the grandson of former Nevada Gov. and U.S. Sen. Paul Laxalt.

Adam Laxalt is a fresh and believable candidate in Nevada politics, yet new to the political wars of the state.

A first-time candidate at 35, Laxalt jumped into the race for attorney general when no other significant Republican would step up. You have to admire his courage, even his rookie enthusiasm.

He was sought after by Republicans partly because of his family name. He’s royalty by Nevada standards.

He is, of course, the grandson of former U.S. Sen. and Gov. Paul Laxalt, who was so influential in 1980s Washington politics that he was called the “first friend” to President Ronald Reagan.

Adam Laxalt has a lot going for him, politically. He’s a former Navy JAG officer who volunteered for the battle zones of Iraq. He has a wife and child straight out of central casting. Plus he’s got that royal name.

The thought here, however, is that it’s too much for Laxalt to be expected to defeat Democrat Ross Miller for attorney general this year.

Miller has been campaigning for attorney general for more than a year. Some say he’s been game-planning this race since he was first re-elected as secretary of state in 2010.

He’s raised almost $1.4 million and has his own royal bloodline since his dad, Bob Miller, served 10 years as Nevada’s governor.

Like Paul Laxalt, Bob has friends in high places. Bill Clinton comes to mind. The former president wrote the foreword to Bob’s recent autobiography, “Son of a Gambling Man.”

The venerable and respected former Sen. Paul Laxalt, 91, is perhaps too elderly to help his grandson’s campaign much. But that is not the case with Bob Miller, who’s still strong enough to arm wrestle you for a donation to his son’s campaign. war chest.

More importantly, Miller’s Nevada Democrats have a voter registration advantage over Republicans of almost 112,000.

Many are counting on a Republican upswing in 2014. It remains to be seen if that carries the day in the AG’s race.

IF ADAM LAXALT could turn back time, it might have been better for him to start his political career in Carson City and not Las Vegas, where he lives now.

Carson City is his grandfather’s hometown. Paul Laxalt played on Carson High School’s 1938 state championship basketball team. That’s how far back the family legacy goes.

The state capital would certainly have embraced the homecoming of Paul Laxalt’s grandson. Maybe the smarter move for Adam Laxalt would have been to start his political career in Assembly District 40, representing his grandpa’s hometown.

Who wouldn’t vote for a Laxalt in that district? This year especially, Laxalt could have waltzed into Carson City’s open seat in Assembly District 40 and begun plotting his ascension to Congress.

With some legislative experience, Laxalt would be a better and more seasoned candidate for attorney general — or any other office — on his way to the top.

He certainly would be setting himself up to succeed Nevada’s current 2nd U.S. House District Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, or beat him in a future primary. Amodei’s 2nd U.S. House District would be a good fit for Laxalt. Its residents respect military service and Nevada history.

As a congressman, Laxalt’s close ties to his grandfather and mother’s friends in Washington, D.C., could be put to use for Nevada voters, since we are talking about A-list Beltway Republicans.

Maybe Laxalt has the potential to become a statesman, like his grandfather. But he has to win an election first.

The hope here is that Adam Laxalt didn’t get suckered into an attorney general’s race he can’t win — one that may end his political career before it gets started.

About this blog

Ray Hagar is the political reporter for the Reno Gazette-Journal and a fifth-generation Nevadan. Hagar is also a co-host for the Nevada Newsmakers statewide television program. He is the co-author of "Johnson-Jeffries: Dateline Reno," a book about the 1910 "Fight of the Century" in Reno that pitted black world champion Jack Johnson against the "Great White Hope," Jim Jeffries